Tiger Woods is the son of Earl Woods, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, and Kultida Woods, who was born in Thailand. Earl introduced Tiger to golf when he was an infant; Kultida supported his career, helped connect him with her Thai heritage, and encouraged the Sunday-red tradition associated with him. Both parents also valued education, a commitment reflected in the family’s foundation work.
Who were Tiger Woods’ parents?
Earl and Kultida Woods raised Tiger in Cypress, California. Tiger’s official biography identifies Earl as a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and Kultida as a native of Thailand. The Associated Press reports that Kultida, often called Tida, worked as a civilian secretary in a U.S. Army office in Bangkok when she met Earl, who was stationed there. They married, and she left Thailand for the first time in 1968, moving first to Brooklyn and then to Cypress. Tiger was born in 1975.
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When Tiger was nine, Kultida took him to Thailand, a trip that connected him with her heritage, according to the AP. Her influence on his life was not limited to family background: she was present through his junior golf years and remained a vocal supporter as his career grew.
How did Earl Woods introduce Tiger to golf?
Tiger’s official biography says he began taking an interest in golf at six months old, watching Earl hit balls into a net and imitating his swing. This is the family’s official biographical account of Tiger’s early interest, rather than an independently documented developmental study. Earl became the parent most publicly associated with Tiger’s first golf instruction and with sharing golf knowledge.
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Kultida described Earl’s outlook in a 2016 interview with the Tiger Woods Foundation: he believed Tiger should share his golf gift and knowledge with others. That idea extended the meaning of golf beyond competition and helped shape the family’s later educational and mentorship work.
What influence did Kultida Woods have on Tiger’s career?
Kultida drove Tiger to junior tournaments and supported him throughout his career, the Associated Press reports. After her death, Tiger described her importance in a statement quoted by the AP: “She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.”
Why Tiger wore red on Sundays
Kultida encouraged Tiger to wear red on Sundays because she considered it his power color, according to the AP’s account of the family’s explanation. Tiger said the tradition began when he was a junior golfer and continued at Stanford and into his professional career. “It’s just become synonymous with me,” he said.
Why did Earl and Kultida emphasize education?
Both parents considered education important. In a 2016 interview published by the Tiger Woods Foundation, Kultida recalled Earl’s message: “Education was so important to Earl and me. Earl would always remind Tiger that education is something that nobody can ever take away from you.” She said Tiger proposed widening the foundation’s focus to include helping children with education.
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How are Earl Woods’ legacy and values commemorated?
In 2008, Tiger and Kultida unveiled an eight-foot bronze statue depicting Tiger with Earl at the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim. In the foundation’s retrospective on the dedication, Tiger recalled telling his father, “Thank me? You were the inspiration for it. Without you, I would have never gone down this path.” The statue’s base reproduced a line from Earl’s book Start Something: “I challenge you to make a difference in the world — to reach higher and farther than you ever imagined.”
The scholarship and learning center connect the parents’ documented priorities in distinct ways: Earl’s belief in sharing knowledge and the couple’s emphasis on education. They are part of the public legacy associated with the Tiger Woods Foundation, now known as TGR Foundation, and its education and mentorship work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did Earl and Kultida Woods die?
Earl Woods died on May 3, 2006, according to a remembrance published by the Tiger Woods Foundation. Tiger won the 2006 British Open two months later, as his official biography notes.
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The Associated Press reported that Kultida Woods died on February 4, 2025, at age 80. Tiger’s announcement, as quoted by the AP, did not give a cause of death.
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